CONIFEPw'E. Ill 



PiNUS DeNSIFLORA: The Dense-Flowered Pine. 



This Pine has been recently introduced from China, and all that I 

 have yet seen of it have been, seed, seedlings, and young plants. A 

 distinct species it is not ; a quasi-species it may be ; a variety it 

 certainly is, somewhat related to the quasi-species Massoniana, and 

 also, like this again, to the prototype Pinaster. Its leaves are from 

 three to six inches long, generally two in a sheath, remaining on the 

 plant for three years, stiff, though somewhat slender, light green, and 

 slightly glaucous, and acute pointed. It has stood with us here (South 

 Hants) for the past five years quite unprotected, and seems hardy 

 enough for our climate. It will never be of any value for its timber, 

 but it may be found useful for adding one more variety of a small-sized 

 Pine to an already large collection of Pinacese. 



PiNUS DevONIANA: The Duke of Devonshire's Pine. 



This was introduced in 1839; a Mexican beauty, a (/itasi-Strolms, 

 somewhat too tender for the best soils, warmest localities, and best 

 situations we have in the south of England. 



PiNUS EXGELSA: The Lofty Pine. 



This, although a quasi-species of Strobus, is, nevertheless, a useful, 

 ornamental tree, and hardy enough for the climate of Great Britain and 

 Ireland ; grows freely in any loamy or sandy free soil, and is one of 

 the very best of the many Strohus forms for this climate. It was intro- 

 duced in 1823, from the Himalayas, where it is found more or less 

 plentiful along the central range, extending east to Bhootan, and west to 

 Kafiristan, at elevations of from five thousand to twelve thousand feet; 

 attaining heights of from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet ; having 

 spreading branches, which are disposed on the stems in regular whorls, 

 the upper ones somewhat ascending, the lower ones more or less 

 pendent ; rendering a spreading-branched conical Pine ; with glaucous 

 bluish-green foliage ; the leaves from four to nine inches long, slender 

 and drooping ; generally five in a sheath. The cones are solitary, in 

 twos, threes, or more together, generally on the leading shoots or branch 

 stems ; from four to nine inches long, and from one-and-a-half to 

 three inches broad near the base ; tapering to the point at first, some- 

 what erect, and a rich pea-green in colour ; when matured quite 

 pendent, and a pale brown colour ; and when completely ripe so full of 

 resinous juice as to cause to exude numerous transparent drops of it. 

 Its wood is compact in texture, white in colour, fragrant and resinous ; 

 but soft and not very durable. It is as an ornamental Pine that it 

 should be planted in Britain, and there are, even now, some fine 



